Out & About Magazine (North East) June 2021 Edition 60

Your FREE local interest & advertising magazine • June 2021 • Edition 60 Tow Law, Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, Crook, Willington, Wolsingham & surrounding areas

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Inside this month’s edition: Years gone by • Spotlight on Paul Simpson • Meeting Crook NTP

Call in and view the full range of flooring available and enquire about our free measuring and estimating service.

20 - 22 Church Street, Crook Telephone: 01388 765 259

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Monthly advert price 1/8 Page £25 1/4 Page £45 1/2 Page £85 Full Page £150 Double Page £250 Front Page £150 Inner Front Page £180 Back Page £200

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Welcome to the June edition of Out & About, your friendly local interest & advertising magazine.

This month on page 6 we welcome Lee’s Guttering & Facia Cleaning Services, so if your gutter is like a jungle, give Lee a call. On page 7 we have Trevor Burn Fencing who can put up any type of fence for you, they can also supply a range of fencing products.

On page 9 we have Steven Norris Plumbing & Heating, the bathroom installation specialist, if you are looking to upgrade your bathroom check out his advert. As restrictions are starting to lift we welcome back Russ Turner on page 10 who is restarting his Pilates classes at the St. Cuthbert’s Centre in Crook, at the moment spaces need to be pre-booked.

Her’s & Sir’s Hair & Beauty is on page 15, they offer a large range of hair and beauty treatments from hair extensions to gel nails, check out their list of services.

Looking at a new carpet? Take a look at page 19 Frank’s The Flooring Store in Crook have their latest advert, they have a new fantastic range of British wool carpets plus vinyl, laminate flooring and even artificial grass.

Don’t forget to quote Out & About when replying to adverts & lastly we hope you enjoy this month’s edition.

BOOK YOUR ADVERTISING SPACE TODAY THE DEADLINE FOR THE JULY EDITION IS TUESDAY 27TH JUNE AT 4PM. No design fees if you don’t have your own artwork • Discounts on 3 month bookings • No VAT • Debit & credit cards can be taken in person at Ritchie Coatsworth Photography or over the telephone.

Please note: Payment is due at the time of booking.

Call us on 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 or email us at studio@rcphoto.co.uk DISCLAIMER - Whilst we take every care to ensure accuracy in this magazine, we regret that we cannot accept responsibility for any incorrect information. All adverts are accepted in good faith as to their accuracy. The copying of any material within this publication is strictly forbidden without the publishers consent.

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PLANNING AN EVENT OR CELEBRATION? Crook Community Leisure offer a wide range opportunities for both indoor and outdoor parties, celebrations, receptions, meetings and conferences at competitive rates. The site has disabled access, a fully functioning bar, catering unit, WIFI, a large Power Point screen and projector to cater for all your needs, whether these are for business use or for that special celebration.

We offer a variety of packages ranging from the use of the bar area, to the studio, to the outdoor space we are happy to cater for your individual needs.

Telephone: 01388 763 989 Email: info@crookleisurecentre.co.uk www.crookleisurecentre.co.uk

Lee’s Guttering & Facia Cleaning Services Before

Before

After

After

Tel: 07958 592 302 K.B. DECORATING SERVICES Quality decorating at affordable prices with over 20 years experience. All trade materials supplied and all work guaranteed.

No job too big or small • Free estimates

Tuesday

Crook Masonic Hall AM and PM sessions.

Tel: Christine 07494 253 429

Thursday

Wolsingham Masonic Hall AM and PM sessions.

Tel: Barbara 07931 790 758

Saturday

Willington WMC AM sessions.

Tel: Lynn 07922 877 901

Call Keith on 01388 607 258 or 07973 284 999 or email kbdec1@gmail.com

Good living for later living

1 bedroom apartments available now

Tow Law, County Durham Stunning views

To find out more about our older people’s support service, call 0300 131 7985 or 07423 074 408 | www.homegroup.org.uk 6

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SEASONED HARDWOOD LOGS WARD TIMBER LTD, ROGERLEY SAWMILL, FROSTERLEY, COUNTY DURHAM DL13 2QE Call us on 01388 528 362 or email sales@wardtimber.co.uk

Collection only PAINTING & DECORATING SERVICES Experienced Decorator

Free Quotes • OAP Rates • Insured

Call Alan on 0191 386 8534

VIKING INK CROOK Tattoo Studio

34 Hope Street, Crook, DL15 9HU Come and join us for a truly unique Viking themed Tattooing experience.

All styles of tattoos • FREE consultation

vikinginkcrook 07724 641 340 vikingink666@gmail.com Don’t forget to quote Out & About Magazine when responding to adverts.

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Years gone by...

Workers at ATM Dyehouse, Crook. Image supplied by Brian Coote.

Chris Sayers of Willington.

Image supplied by Cliff Sayers.

The Addams Family float at Tow Law carnival on the back of Charlton’s Coal van. Image supplied by Emma Paine.

All of our food is homemade Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 9am - 4pm (Booking a table is recommended)

We are observing the 2 metre social distancing inside the tea shop. There is a covered terrace outside with seating. If you have any concerns regarding distance & Covid 19 please discuss these with us. Masks should be worn when entering, leaving & taking away.

We are fully licensed & offer Afternoon Tea with Prosecco.

New Menu including lots of new dishes plus the old favourites.

For the remainder of the social distancing period we request people phone or message via Facebook ahead please.

DISABLED ACCESS • FREE WIFI DOG FRIENDLY • OUTSIDE SEATING Restaurant GURU “Best Café in Crook 2019”

AVAILABLE 8

5/6 Commercial Street, Crook, County Durham Telephone: 01388 768 754 Email: bluestoneteashop@gmail.com thebluestoneteashop BTeashop

M

N

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We can also replace your old kitchen sink.

We can add a radiator to any cold room.

We also install all types of oil boilers.

We can replace your old bath with a shower.

We also replace old oil tanks.

We can replace your bathroom.

We specialise in new bathroom & wetroom installations • Power flushing • Vented & unvented cylinders • Replacement of taps, cold water tanks, showers & ball valves.

Call us on 01388 762 291 or 07583 124 830 Email: stevennorrisplumbing@gmail.com

PILATES SESSIONS B-INSPIRED B-ACTIVE Monday

(Spaces need to be pre-booked)

St. Cuthberts Centre, Church Hill, Crook: 6pm - 7pm & 7:15pm - 8:15pm

SPOT CASH

FURNITURE & ELECTRICAL GOODS WANTED Household goods bought & sold suites, beds, wardrobes, tables, fridge freezers...etc

Call us on 07814 117 437

Ideal for back pain, pre & post natal.

Personal training available for rehabilitation either as 1-2-1 or in small groups.

Find out more by contacting Russ on

07951or 782 657 email

russturner40@gmail.com

Covid restrictions will apply, please call for further details.

Bespokepilatesuk

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You r G GARDENIN u ld business co ut go be reachin es om to 10,000 h h every mont

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Spotlight on painter Paul Simpson This month we shine the spotlight on painter Paul Simpson from Bishop Auckland who has been painting some iconic scenes and buildings to raise money for charity.

Hi Paul, firstly I really like your style of painting tell us a little about how you got into painting in the first place?

which people will hopefully remember and bring back some nice memories. The Electric Empire Palace in Crook was not captured before to my knowledge and only a few photos are available online which are in black and white and did not do the building justice. I try and get as much local knowledge from people who remember to give me an idea on what it was like back in the day! I got to know the projectionists on the top floor had cigarette breaks on the balcony as they had access doors from the cinema, and they played “god save the queen” at the end of films so people knew they had to leave!

Hi, first thanks for liking my paintings! Before last year I had not painted or drawn since my art O-Level some 35 years ago. As I work in engineering, I never thought about it really until I had a lot of spare time because of Covid. It all started after I took a photo of the deer house in Bishop Auckland last summer and I put it on social media together with a painting I did of it.

The post was popular, and it was suggested I auction it, so I did and raised quite a bit for the foodbank in Harvey’s, Postchaise and the Queen’s in Woodhouse Close, the early1990s. Historic England requested Bishop Auckland. After it uploading to “Enrich the List” website. this two families asked if I could help with their fund-raising for the Great North Air Ambulance so I painted a scene from the top of the newly built tower in 2019. I printed prints from home, selling them for £5 with the money from all sales going to G.N.A.A, through these sales I helped to raise over £600. As lockdown continued so did I!

What artists do you admire and what influences your painting style?

I admire Lowry, I visit Berwick upon Tweed regularly and he

How do you choose what scenes or buildings from history to paint?

I prefer nostalgic events with popular historic buildings in the background so in all my paintings I try to include images 12

View from the tower at the food festival 2019.

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has captured quite a bit up there.

I like his style as he concentrates on the buildings and events and the people in his paintings just give interpretations and he does not try to replicate an image, just gives a hint on how it was.

Do you take commissions as I can think of a few iconic scenes that would look great in your style.

Regarding commissions I definitely would take any The Electric Empire Palace showing the Jungle Book in 1967, the following film was requests into account but they James Bond’s You Only Live Twice, the year after it was changed to a bingo hall. have to be in my style and in line with what I’m enjoying doing, art nostalgia. Sam Zair in Bishop Auckland has kindly asked me to do a painting for all his ice cream vehicles starting with the families horse and cart in the very early 1900s through to the 1980s, this is what I enjoy doing, keeping memories alive in art.

Tell us a little about the charity work that your painting supports?

At present my main charity is the foodbanks as throughout Covid people have struggled with losing their income or parents have found it difficult to feed their kids when everyone is at home, so I try to help out as much as possible.

Where do you see your painting taking you over the next couple of years as you are picking up a nice fan base?

The old Marks & Spencer building in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland in 1976 with a popular town service bus & a doggarts delivery van.

Hopefully in the future I can still find the time to continue doing these paintings and bring back nostalgic memories for people. I will be doing more paintings from Crook in the future as I lived in Stanley Crook, then Crook as a kid. My grandmother worked at Ramars and the toffee factory so these will be on my list!

Contact Details Facebook page: “Bishop Auckland Art Nostalgia”

Green Tree Lockeys bus BAFC cup winners parade in 1955 accompanied by the mainsforth colliery prize band heading to the marketplace.

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Getting to know Crook NPT This month we take a look at Crook NPT with a view to running a feature on them each month. PCSO Chris Davison introduces the team.

Crook NPT is made up of 1 Sergeant, 4 Police Constables and several Police Community Support Officers who work closely with Response Officers based at Crook, as well as other specialist policing teams across Durham Constabulary. We aim to deliver excellent policing which inspires confidence in victims and our communities by protecting neighbourhoods, tackling criminals and solving problems around the clock, proud to deliver value for money policing across the 3 Towns.

Over the last month Crook NPT have seen a large increase in fires reported across the 3 towns area, we have liaised with the Anti Social Behaviour teams of Durham County Council and together we have increased patrols in the target areas. We hope this increased presence and ongoing investigations will deter future incidents of this sort of Anti Social Behaviour.

This month has seen the retirement of Mr Raw, who has over 35 years with Durham Constabulary, Mr Raw was a huge part of the Community Speedwatch and will be sadly missed. The Community Speedwatch project in Crook was launched in August 2019 and the van has been deployed whenever possible at certain locations across the 3 Towns area. We plan on having a drive to increase the number of volunteers so watch this space if you are interested in volunteering some of your spare time to assist your community.

Crook NPT have worked alongside colleagues from other policing teams across the South of the County to dismantle several cannabis grows, some of which have been in and around the 3 Towns area. These properties are often full of chemicals, plastics and other flammable objects. These properties can be semi detached or terraced properties that can be left alone for long periods of 14

time with the cables and various adapters running red hot. We can not stress enough the dangers of cannabis grows to other residents. Quite often these grows are manned by victims of human trafficking, forced to work against their will often in fear of repercussions for themselves or family members if they do not comply. Durham Police rely heavily on community intelligence to tackle these issues and information can be provided via crimestoppers.

Recently we have seen a reduction in the use of off road bikes, if you know of a pit bike or quad being driven illegally or in an anti-social manner then let us know via 101.

Crook NPT working in partnership with the Area Action Partnership are excited to offer the ‘youth hub’ to the youth within the 3 Towns area. The youth club will be open for 3 hours per night for 1 night per week in Crook, Tow Law and Willington. This project is due to start in September as the nights start to darken and the summer activities come to an end. If you can chat to your children and ask them what they might want from a youth club, we will be going into schools and holding forums via Facebook to try identify what your children want from a youth club, so please watch this space. We have funding for the “Youth Hub” to run for 6 months, if we can all make it a success we hope to continue the project long into the future.

For more information on what is going on in your area you can sign up to ‘Keep In the know’ at www.keepintheknow.co.uk or for more details ask one of our team about the service at the next iPACT featured on the Crook police Facebook page.

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Years gone by...

A Crook Football Team in 1949-50.

Image supplied by Joanne Collingwood.

Little John loading the dye vats at ATM, Crook.

Image supplied by Brain Coote.

Crook Fire & Mine Rescue men at the Peases West Station in the late 50’s.

The Kings Head contribution to the Crook Gala in the 70s.

Image supplied by Brain Coote.

We URGENTLY need your old photos!!

We are running low on old photos of places & people from years gone by and would love to keep the feature going. Can you help? Due to the current social distancing measures we are unable to accept these in person for the time being.

Please email any old photos to: studio@rcphoto.co.uk 16

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80 Hope Street, Crook, County Durham DL15 9HT

Tel: 01388 417 337 or 07963 635 568 | Email: studio@rcphoto.co.uk www.ritchiecoatsworthphotography.co.uk | Find us on Facebook

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Getting Married?

Get in touch today to secure photography for your special day.

Sportsman’s Dinner In aid of “The Lawyers” Tow Law Town AFC

GUEST SPEAKER

Jeff Stelling £30 per ticket Includes pie & pea supper, entertainment, raffle, auction & other fundraising activities.

Sunday 29th August at Crook Golf Club

Doors open at 7pm • Smart casual dress For tickets call visit towlawtown.co.uk/online-store

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Call in and view the full range of flooring available and enquire about our free measuring and estimating service.

Laminate, solid wood, engineered wood, vinyl, luxury vinyl tile, artificial grass, carpet and rugs.

FRANK’S PRICE PROMISE If we can’t offer you a better like for like deal we’ll give you the flooring free.

20 - 22 Church Street, Crook Telephone: 01388 765 259

New government guidelines for people attending a funeral service From 17th May 2021, limits to the number of people who are able to attend a funeral will be lifted, but social distancing must still be observed.

This means venues, such as churches, crematoriums and cemeteries, will still apply an upper limit to the number of people who can attend the service, depending on their ability to retain social distancing.

Durham Crematorium are now able to accommodate 24 people & Wear Valley Crematorium are able to accommodate 36 people, in their respective chapels.

People are not permitted to gather outside.

Webcasts are still available at both crematoriums for those unable to attend.

The number of people allowed to attend at a burial has increased to 40 people.

Face coverings will still be a mandatory requirement.

Crook 01388 765 069 www.hardysfunerals.co.uk Willington 01388 747 747